Knob igniter of a gas stove

ABSTRACT

In a knob igniter used for a gas stove, a knob includes a switch module, a control unit, and a high-voltage coil, and a conducting wire is connected to an ignition electrode disposed on a stove mouth and corresponding to knob, such that the ignition electrode can produce a continuous discharge ignition. The knob of the present invention includes the separate switch module, control unit and high-voltage coil, and thus improving the life expectancy of the knob igniter. The invention has the advantages of simple structure, high ignition hit rate, and convenient installation, repair and maintenance, and replacement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a component of a gas stove, and more particularly to a knob igniter of a gas stove.

2. Description of the Related Art

At present, most of the gas stoves available in the market adopt a high-voltage discharge ignition for an ignition regardless of indoor or outdoor applications, and the ignition device is mainly divided into piezoelectric ceramic igniters and pulse igniters. The piezoelectric ceramic igniter comprises a piezoelectric ceramic device, a hammer, a spring, an ignition electrode, a high-voltage wire, a turning plate, an ignition nozzle (or a pilot flame nozzle) and a shaft and a knob connected with the gas stove. In an operating process, the knob is turned to drive the shaft to turn the turning plate, and the turning plate drives the hammer to move backward and compress the spring. When the knob and the shaft are turned continuously, the channel for igniting the gas is opened, such that the gas flows towards the ignition nozzle. In the meantime, the turning plate and the hammer are separated after the turning plate drives the hammer to move to its limit position, and the resilience of the spring drives the hammer to strike the piezoelectric ceramic device to produce a high-voltage discharge, and the high-voltage wire and the ignition electrode ignite the gas coming out from the ignition nozzle.

The advantages of the piezoelectric ceramic igniter include its low cost, simple structure, long life expectancy, and no additional requirement for power supply. Since each turn of the knob produces a spark only, the ignition hit rate is not high, and users usually have to repeat the ignition process to light up the gas stove.

Another type of ignition is the pulse igniter which includes a pulse switch installed on a central control circuit of the gas stove, a battery, an electronic component, and a high-voltage coil. The central control circuit is connected to an ignition electrode of each stove mouth on the gas stove through a plurality of conducting wires respectively. The pulse switch is connected to the knob of the gas stove, such that when a user presses the knob to open a gas valve of one of the stove mouths, the pulse switch on the central control circuit is turned on, and the electronic component is electrically connected to drive a high-voltage coil to produce a continuous high-voltage discharge transmitted to the ignition electrode of each stove mouth through a plurality of conducting wires respectively to produce a continuous discharge ignition until the ignition electrode ignites the stove mouth corresponding to a gas valve that is opened by the knob.

An advantage of the pulse igniter resides on that users simply require turning the knob once to produce continuous sparks, and thus the pulse igniter has a high ignition rate. However, a gas stove set generally comes with a set of high-voltage coil and electronic component installed on the central control circuit for controlling the ignition, so that if a user turns on a knob of a gas stove having a plurality of stove mouths, not only a high-voltage discharge will be produced by that particular ignition electrode of the stove mouth, but the ignition electrodes of all other stove mouths will be started, and such arrangement seriously affect the life of the ignition electrodes. Particularly for cooking, an overflow of liquid or steam will moisten the environment, and the ignition device of this sort will be moistened and damaged easily. Furthermore, the igniter of this sort comes with a complicated structure and convenient repair, maintenance and replacement.

In view of the foregoing shortcomings, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a knob igniter of a gas stove that has the advantages of a higher ignition hit rate, a longer life and a simpler installation than the traditional ignition device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary objective of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a knob igniter of a gas stove, and the knob igniter has the advantages of a high ignition hit rate, an easy repair and maintenance, and a separate discharge ignition by an ignition electrode to enhance the life expectancy of the igniter.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a knob igniter of a gas stove, wherein a switch module, a control unit, and a high-voltage coil are installed in a knob, and a conducting wire is connected to an ignition electrode installed on a stove mouth and corresponding to the knob.

The knob includes a base and an upper cover, and a containing space is defined between the base and the upper cover for containing the switch module, the control unit, the and high-voltage coil, wherein the base is mounted onto the gas stove, and the upper cover can be rotated with respect to the base.

The switch module is provided for connecting or disconnecting a circuit of the control unit, and further includes an insulating plate fixed onto the base, a conducting plate disposed on the insulating plate, and a conducting device synchronously actuated with the upper cover.

If the upper cover is turned with respect to the base, the conducting device will be driven to turn and displace, such that when the conducting device is turned and displaced to a position in contact with the conducting plate, the circuit of the control unit will be electrically connected, and if the conducting device is turned and displaced to a position separated from the conducting plate, the circuit of the control unit will be disconnected. In addition to the turning, the upper cover can be opened by pressing, such that the conducting device is contacted with the conducting plate, and this is another way of actuating the upper cover.

After the circuit of the control unit circuit is electrically connected, a high-voltage coil is used for producing a high-voltage discharge, and connected to an ignition electrode disposed on a stove mouth corresponding to the knob though a conducting wire, so that the ignition electrode on the stove mouth corresponding to the knob produces a continuous discharge ignition.

The knob further installs a power unit for supplying electric power for the switch module, the control unit and the high-voltage coil. In an operation, the power unit can be a general dry-cell battery or a rechargeable battery that works together with a solar panel for charging the rechargeable battery, and the solar panel can be placed outside the knob and at a position where there is sunlight.

With the foregoing structure, if a user turns the upper cover of the knob for maintaining the conducting device and the arc metal plate in their contact position, then the control unit will keep the circuit electrically connected, so that the high-voltage coil produces a high-voltage discharge transmitted to the ignition electrode on the stove mouth corresponding to the knob through the conducting wire, and the corresponding ignition electrode produces a continuous discharge ignition. In the meantime, the upper cover is turned to open a gas nozzle, such that the gas coming out from the gas nozzle will be ignited by the ignition electrode. If the upper cover of the knob is turned back to its original position, the conducting device will be turned to open the conducting plate and disconnect the circuit of the control unit, so as to complete the ignition operation.

Compared with the prior art, the design of the switch module in accordance with the present invention assures the ignition hit rate. Since the knob installs separate control unit and high-voltage coil therein, only the ignition electrode connected to the knob through a conducting wire produces a high-voltage discharge for ignition, but the ignition electrodes of other unused stove mouths will not be ignited. Therefore, the invention can extend the life expectancy of the ignition electrodes and enhance the safety of their use. Regardless of installation, replacement or maintenance, the invention provides tremendous convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of an insulating plate of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The technical characteristics of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings as follows.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a knob igniter of a gas stove in accordance with the present invention, a knob 10 includes a switch module 20, a control unit 30, and a high-voltage coil 40 therein, and a conducting wire 50 is connected to an ignition electrode 60 at a stove opening corresponding to the knob 10. In the figures, the knob 10 further includes a power unit 70 for supplying electric power required for the operations of the switch module 20, the control unit 30, and the high-voltage coil 40.

The knob 10 includes a base 11 and an upper cover 12, and a containing space is defined between the base 11 and the upper cover 12 for containing the switch module 20, the control unit 30, and the high-voltage coil 40, wherein the base 11 is mounted onto the gas stove, and the upper cover 12 can be turned with respect to the base 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the switch module 20 is provided for connecting or disconnecting a circuit of the control unit 30, and further includes an insulating plate 21 fixed onto the base 11, a conducting plate 22 disposed on the insulating plate 21, and a conducting device 23 synchronously actuated with the upper cover 12.

In an embodiment, an actuating plate 13 is fixed to the bottom of the upper cover 12, and a fixing hole 14 is disposed on the actuating plate 13 for fixing the conducting device 23, and the upper cover 12 and the actuating plate 13 can be turned with respect to the base 11 to drive the conducting device 23 to turn or displace. If the conducting device 23 is turned and displaced to a position in contact with the conducting plate 22, then the circuit of the control unit 30 is electrically connected, and if the conducting device 23 is turned and displaced to a position separated from the conducting plate 22, then the circuit of the control unit 30 is disconnected.

In an embodiment, the conducting plate 22 can be in an arc shape of a ¼ of a circle for enhancing the contact path of the conducting device 23 on the conducting plate 22 and assuring the electric connection of the circuit of the control unit 30. In addition to turning the upper cover 12, the upper cover 12 can be opened by pressing, so that the conducting device 23 is contacted with the conducting plate 22, and thus the upper cover provides another feasible embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, after the circuit of the control unit 30 is electrically connected, the high-voltage coil 40 produces a high-voltage discharge transmitted to the ignition electrode 60 on the stove mouth corresponding to the knob 10 through the conducting wire 50, such that the ignition electrode 60 disposed on the stove mouth and corresponding to the knob 10 produces a continuous discharge ignition.

In an embodiment, the power unit 70 installed in the knob 10 can be a general dry-cell battery or a rechargeable battery that works with a solar panel 71 for charging the rechargeable battery, and the solar panel 71 can be placed outside the knob 10 at a position where there is an easy access of sunlight.

With the foregoing structure, if a user turns the upper cover 12 to maintain the conducting device 23 and the conducting plate 22 in their contact position, then the control unit 30 will keep the circuit to be electrically connected, such that the high-voltage coil 40 continues the high-voltage discharge transmitted to the ignition electrode 60 on the stove mouth corresponding to the knob 10 through the conducting wire 50, and the corresponding ignition electrode 60 will produce a continuous discharge ignition. In the meantime, the upper cover 12 is turned to open the gas nozzle, such that the gas coming out from the gas nozzle is ignited by the ignition electrode 60. If the upper cover 12 of the knob 10 is turned back to its original position, the conducting device 23 will be turned accordingly and separated from the conducting plate 22 to disconnect the circuit of the control unit 30, so as to complete the ignition operation.

While the invention is described in some detail hereinbelow with reference to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the aim is to cover all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A knob igniter of a gas stove, having a switch module, a control unit, and a high-voltage coil installed in a knob, and a conducting wire connected to an ignition electrode disposed on the knob and corresponding to a stove mouth, characterized in that the knob comprises: a base mounted onto the gas stove, an upper cover rotatable with respect to the base, and the switch module, the control unit and the high-voltage coil are contained between the base and the upper cover, and the switch module for connecting or disconnecting a circuit of the control unit further includes an insulating plate fixed onto the base, a conducting plate installed onto the insulating plate, and a conducting device actuated synchronously with the upper cover, such that when the conducting device is displaced, the conducting device is contacted with the conducting plate to electrically conduct a circuit of the control unit, so that the high-voltage coil produces a high-voltage discharge, and the ignition electrode connected to a stove mouth corresponding to the knob through the conducting wire produces a continuous discharge ignition.
 2. The knob igniter of a gas stove as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper cover further includes an actuating plate fixed to the bottom of the upper cover, and the actuating plate includes a fixing hole thereon for fixing the conducting device.
 3. The knob igniter of a gas stove as recited in claim 1, wherein the conducting plate is substantially in an arch shape with an arc length equal to ¼ of a circle for increasing a contact path of the conducting device on the conducting plate.
 4. The knob igniter of a gas stove as recited in claim 1, wherein the knob further includes a power unit installed therein for supplying power to the switch module, the control unit, and the high-voltage coil.
 5. The knob igniter of a gas stove as recited in claim 4, wherein the power unit is a dry-cell battery.
 6. The knob igniter of a gas stove as recited in claim 4, wherein the power unit includes a chargeable battery, and a solar panel disposed at an exterior of the knob for charging the chargeable battery. 